Page 74 of Dark Embers

“Okay. Well, do you know when she might be back?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly like I was a pimply young school boy.

“And what business do you have with my granddaughter exactly?”

I was stumped for a moment. Obviously, I knew that she was a witch just like Shea, but I had no idea how much she really knew about any of what had gone on between Shea and I, and I didn’t want to out Shea on anything that she might not want her to know.

So, as much as I hated lying, I decided I had to.

“I’m the case worker for her friend, Arya Walker,” I stated with some trace of authority. It wasn’t entirely a lie, just omitted a lotof the finer details. “I just have a few questions for Shea to help with Arya’s case.”

She eyed me heavily, and I almost wondered if she was using some magic to try to read my mind. Thankfully, I’d been trained in mao interrogation, so I knew how to clear my thoughts. Just in case.

“Fine. You may come in and wait for her,” she relented finally, stepping aside and holding the door open in invitation.

“Thank you,” I said with a nod of appreciation as I entered.

She gestured for me to sit on the small couch in the living room, and to my chagrin, she sat on the arm chair opposite me.

I couldn’t remember the last time I was so uncomfortable in anyone’s presence. I’d battled vampires and argued with shifter delegates. I’d faced Hadrian himself! I was a force to be reckoned with. Hell, I’d even had disputes with General Dracul that didn’t intimidate me, but this small woman stole all of my composure, making it very hard to sit still in this tense silence.

When she leaned forward to pluck her tea cup from the coffee table, I nearly flinched.

“You know,” she said, slowly taking a sip of her tea. “I know what you are. Don’t think you can fool me, sir, because I could sense your aura from a mile away.”

I swallowed, unsure if I was relieved or concerned by that declaration.

“You are the director of that school Arya got sent to.” Not a question, but a statement of fact.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”

She nodded, setting her tea cup back down, her brow wrinkling with the first sign of any emotion I’d seen from her. “How is Arya fairing after what happened?”

I let out a breath, relaxing my shoulders slightly. “It’s been a struggle. That’s actually why I’m here. There’s been…an incident regarding Arya that I was hoping Shea could assist with.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, her sternness back in full force, and when she met my eyes, I was struck with the strangest, most acute sense of dread. “Well, Shea is an adult and she can do what she wants. But, if you put my granddaughter in any kind of danger, you will experience my wrath.”

I blinked at her, both shocked and a little impressed by her threat.

“Ms. Le Fey, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep Shea safe,” I vowed.

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us falling into some unspoken agreement of our joint intentions. Then the front door opened, and Shea paused in the doorway, her eyes darting back and forth between us uncertainly.

“Um,” she stammered.

Shea’s grandmother sluggishly stood up off the couch. “Well, my soaps are about to start. Shea, let me know if you need anything.”

She gave each of us a warning look before disappearing down the hall.

“Eh, Caesar?” Shea waved at me, beckoning me to follow her outside.

Seeing as I hadn’t heard her grandmother close any doors, I jumped eagerly off the couch. She didn’t need to hear any of the things Shea and I had to say to each other. Especiallycertainthings in particular.

Shea practically shoved me onto the porch when I reached her and shut the door behind us, then yanked me onto the lawn and under a tree.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she whispered accusingly.

“We’re outside, why are you still whispering?” I asked hushedly.

She gave a deadpan look. “My Gram is a witch. She probably cast an amplification spell, so make it short and quick.”

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